Coach Vogel with his two daughters at a playoff press conference.
The Pacers closed the 2015-16 regular season on a high note, winning 6 of 7 in April and shooting 49.3 percent. Both marks were the best in the Eastern Conference.
Head coach Frank Vogel, 42, was highlighted as a result, named Coach of the Month in the East. It is his fourth time receiving this honor, more than any other coach in franchise history.
(Previously: Feb. 2015, Apr. 2013, Nov. 2013)
Indiana needed wins late in the season to get back in the playoffs. They were as high as sixth in the conference standings and as low as 10th before ultimately locking up the seventh seed.
In the team’s regular season finale Wednesday night in Milwaukee, Vogel earned his 250th career win as the Pacers coach. His overall record is 250-181 (.580).
Under Vogel’s guidance the last six seasons, the Pacers have reached the playoffs five times — the exception being the 2014-15 season without Paul George, the team’s best player.
The Pacers open the 2016 NBA Playoffs Saturday afternoon in Toronto.
Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers was named Western Conference Coach of the Month.
LeBron James was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for April. Pacers’ Paul George, who averaged 19.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game in April, was a nominee.